Egyptian State Prosecutor Dies in Cairo Bomb Attack

Hisham Barakat injured along with several bodyguards in blast targeting his convoy in Egyptian capital.

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Arutz Sheva Staff, 29/06/15 12:41 | updated: 16:08

Egyptian police special forces (file)

Reuters

Egypt's state prosecutor has died of wounds he sustained in a bomb attack targeting his car in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Hisham Barakat, the country's top prosecutor, was admitted to hospital along with his bodyguards, who were also wounded in the attack, and was initially said to be in "good condition."

Watch: Footage shows immediate aftermath of attack

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Hours later, however, officials said his condition was "critical," shortly after which he died from his injuries.

The blast took place in Cairo's Heliopolis district; according to Egyptian daily Al Ahram, it occurred outside Cairo's military college.

Pictures have also emerged showing the immediate aftermath of the attack:

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as Egypt continues to grapple with an ongoing insurgency by Islamist terrorists.

Egyptian Islamists have little love for Barakat, who was appointed by the military government following Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi's ouster and who has since headed a campaign against the Brotherhood, which is accused of stoking violence and terrorism.

Among other things, Barakat froze the assets of 15 prominent Brotherhood officials, and ordered the arrest of the group's leader, Mohamed Badie, who is currently on death row with Morsi after being convicted on a range of terrorism and other security-related crimes.